The Samsung Galaxy S is one of the best selling phone ever. Unfortunately, it’s plagued by a lack of updates and a crappy GPS. If you get tired of waiting on Froyo/DK28 modem and flashed a custom ROM to one of the Froyo builds (I personally recommend Bonsai; it’s wicked fast) and lost your GPS here’s how you can fix it. Yes yes, you can fix the GPS on an EPIC 4G.

First things first… this WILL blow away your apps so I recommend first doing a NAND backup in Clockwork recovery. Once you have a good backup go out to Android Market and get Titanium Backup (free on market; requires root) and backup those apps. To do this launch Titanium and goto Backup/Restore. Click menu and then ‘Batch’. Simply select the ‘Backup all user apps’ option and let it backup your apps and data.

Next you’ll need to obtain your MSL code by calling Sprint and asking for it. Ya…. that sounds like a pain right? You can get MSL code without calling Sprint using ConnectBot (from Market). Run ConnectBot and when it launched change the dropdown menu in lower left corner select ‘Local’. Type in any name in the nickname box and hit enter. From there simply type ‘getprop’, hit enter and then scroll up in the results and copy down your MSL code. It’s ril.MSL) in the list.

Lastly, you’re going to perform a manufacturer’s reset. Remove the SD Card from your phone and then enter ##786# on the dialer keypad. You will see two options: View and Reset. Tap on the Reset option and you will get a prompt to enter the MSL code. At this point you will be asked if you want to do a manufacter’s reset, enter yes. The phone will shut down and reset itself after a few seconds. Once the process is complete, the phone will go through a hands free activation. After the activation process updates may be downloaded and installed. Once all updates have been performed check to see if your GPS is working by going to Google Maps. You should get a GPS lock in under 10 seconds. Thats it. Your GPS woes are over.

Now go download Titanium Backup from market (yes… again, because the reset whacked all your data). Restore your user apps and data and you’re good to go. Titanium is awesome, but not perfect. You’ll likely have to restore live wallpapers, widgets, etc. That said it’s significantly faster than going through all the app download/setup again.

Once the process is complete your EPIC 4G with Froyo GPS issue should be fixed.

My buddy Dave ‘Gravystain’ was looking to root his Sprint EVO 4G. Some quick googling and we found instructions. He’s done it, and reports that it’s super easy to root with Unrevoked.REQUIRED DOWNLOADS

Turn off your phone, then boot it into the HBOOT menu by holding power and volume down.

On your phone, you will have to select HBOOT USB at that menu by pressing volume down four times, then power. Wait until the screen flashes through an “SD Checking” message before pressing buttons; otherwise, the phone will ignore keypresses.

Connect the phone to your Windows machine with a USB cable and wait for the phone to say HBOOT USB PLUG on screen.

Open Device Manager.

Click Start, then right click on Computer, then click Properties, then click Device Manager.

Under Other devices, you should now see the Android 1.0 device.

Right click on Android 1.0 and click Update Driver Software:

Click on Browse my computer for driver software.

Click on Browse and select the Android USB Driver folder on on your computer, click ok, then click next.

You should get a status bar indicating that the driver is installing. If you get any warnings, just click Ok.

Your driver should install.

Click Close and make sure Android Bootloader Interface is listed under Android Phone.

Supposedly the images below represent the 2009 line-up of HTC devices coming out. Of note are the Sprint HD Pro ( Tungsten W), VZW HD Pro (Rhodium W) & the Sprint Jasper. The posters of at PPCGeeks suspect that the Jasper will be the first HTC Android phone for the Sprint network… looks like I might be waiting on getting a new phone after all! (view all the phones by clicking the Read More link).

Sprint has finally posted information on the massive firmware update planned for the Samsung Instinct. Users should expect to see the update made available for their device over the next few weeks, with each application prompting to be updated when you access it.

Notable improvements include an apparently more robust experience when browsing YouTube and BestBuy in the web browser, as well as overall system improvements that should reduce stuttering and choppy playback in the various multimedia features.

Open source application Blue Lock monitors the proximity of your Bluetooth phone or device and automatically locks your computer whenever it’s out of range (e.g., you’ve walked away from your computer). The usefulness will depend on the strength of your Bluetooth devices, since it’s not really going to do its job if you’ve got a strong signal and receiver that keeps a connection from across the office. But if it works well with your Bluetooth devices, Blue Lock provides a simple way to keep your computer secure when you step away for a few seconds but forget to hit Win-L to lock your workstation. Blue Lock is free, Windows only.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that my phone DOES pair with my laptop, I couldn’t get Bluelock to work. I currently have an HTC Touch (Sprint Touch aka HTC Vogue). Bluelock flat out won’t find my phone. Ce la vi… maybe it’ll work for you cuz it sounds like an awesome concept.